Info Wanted: Atari 2600 hacked for disabled users

[OneSwitch.org.uk]

I'm looking for information on this, hoping someone here can help:

 

 

It's an adapted Atari VCS with specialised controls and B/W monitor. The image dates from 2006, believed to be from an eBay auction in the USA. You can see it originally being used around 1982 from Ken Yankelevitz (who created it) here:

 

I found the image here: http://www.pong-picture-page.de/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=14&products_id=1593

 

Can anyone please shed some light on what happened to this? I'm really hoping it's not been dumped, as I'd love to get hold of it.

 

Thanks for looking (re. bounced from http://atariage.com/forums/topic/212700-info-wanted-atari-2600-hacked-for-disabled-users/).

 

Barrie (www.OneSwitch.org.uk)

[yllawwally]

Although I've never seen that before. It would be trivial to make controllers like the ones there. The 2600 has the simplest controllers possible. If you tell us what you want the controller to look like, and how you want it to work. I could probably make something pretty easily.

[OneSwitch.org.uk]

Many thanks. I'm really mostly interested in tracking down this early bit of hardware, as I think it's of historical interest in the field of game-accessibility. I do adapt controllers myself, and some of my earliest work involved adapted Atari joysticks. I still use them to this day.

[Gorfy]

You may also be interested in the Atari "Mindlink" controller, which was operated via facial muscle movements. Here's a recent thread about it (make sure to check out Dan Oliver's post, the 5th post in the thread ):

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/213590-atari-mindlink-controller/

[OneSwitch.org.uk]

Fascinating bit of extra history there on the Mind Link, thanks for pointing me there. I put a bit in a blog post about the great work Atari did in the fledgling field of game accessibility in the 1970s and 80s: http://switchgaming....essibility.html

 

Always loved the "Special Feature" bear and what it stood for (i.e. greater access).

 

Re. the Mindlink (and I'm still really keen to find out what happened to the controller above if anyone can help) - this story interests me a lot too:

 

"The sad part of Mindlink's history is that the day after it was splashed on national TV

Someone associated with the original Battlestar Galactica film/series,

came to the booth and brought a proposal from Rafer Johnson,

Olympic Champion and the then president of Special Olympics.

They were proposing that Atari develop sports software for the next Special Olympics.

The Rose Kennedy Foundation was going to foot the total development cost.

This would have opened a door to development of computer control for the handicapped;

which could not realistically be funded any other way. "

 

Via: http://www.atarimuse...0/mindlink.html

 

I wonder what Atari would have turned up there if the business hadn't been cracking down on all the exciting R&D work they had been up to.

Edited June 21, 2013 by OneSwitch.org.uk

[Gorfy]

@OneSwitch -- Thanks for the link to your site. There's a lot of great stuff on there. The affordable eye-tracker by NUIA looks awesome!

[Serious]

Many thanks. I'm really mostly interested in tracking down this early bit of hardware, as I think it's of historical interest in the field of game-accessibility. I do adapt controllers myself, and some of my earliest work involved adapted Atari joysticks. I still use them to this day.

 

The controllers in that picture are the FingerTip controller by KY Enterprises. These were available via mailorder in ads in Electronic Games magazine around 1982.

 

Here is a photo.

[OneSwitch.org.uk]

Many many thanks for the tips. Gets me a bit closer to finding one I can get my hands on. I do wonder if any of the extras still exist anywhere (see advert below). The TV looks like the one in the video you can see in this blog post I've knocked up on all this. Really enjoyed the "Electronic Games" magazines too.

 

 

http://switchgaming.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/fingertip-controllers-1982.html

 

[pimpmaul69]

i could build one without anyone being able to tell the difference. i dont plan on scamming anyone though. if someone needs a controller like this please feel free to ask. i can also modify other one handed controllers like the one handed snes/playstation grip controller or the one handed playstation driving paddle i would gladly make one. i would even put a genesis controller chip in it if they want the 2 button capabilities. i can make controllers use the rockband foot pedals for controls as well. i have modified hundreds of controllers and have made tons of controllers for handicapped people so if someone needs a custom job please feel free to pm me.

Edited August 1, 2013 by pimpmaul69

[OneSwitch.org.uk]

i could build one without anyone being able to tell the difference. i dont plan on scamming anyone though. if someone needs a controller like this please feel free to ask. i can also modify other one handed controllers like the one handed snes/playstation grip controller or the one handed playstation driving paddle i would gladly make one. i would even put a genesis controller chip in it if they want the 2 button capabilities. i can make controllers use the rockband foot pedals for controls as well. i have modified hundreds of controllers and have made tons of controllers for handicapped people so if someone needs a custom job please feel free to pm me.

 

Great stuff. Just wondering if you have a web-site at all to share any of this info? Just wondering about adding you to this list: http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/1/AGS/AGS-bespoke.htm

[JadeETC]

Anyone know the exact model that TV is? I'd like to build one of these.